Villeneuve to test Williams! - Page 2

ASCII Man · 21 May 2004, 21:55 (Ref:978141)

Jeez...

TedN · 21 May 2004, 22:57 (Ref:978175)

http://www.canada.com/montreal/montr...6-9fb3325c5d11

Friday, May 21, 2004
Villeneuve may return to F1

A Montreal newspaper reported Friday that Jacques Villeneuve will return to Formula I racing this season.

La Presse reported that negotiations between the Quebec driver and the Williams-BMW team are 99.9 per cent complete. He may begin practice trials on private European racetracks by the end of the month.

Villeneuve may replace Ralf Schumacher on the Williams-BMW team. Relations between Schumacher and the team's management have been tenuous for some time.

Williams-BMW was Villeneuve's first F1 team. He raced for them for three years, collecting his only championship in 1997.

JohnSSC · 21 May 2004, 23:10 (Ref:978183)

I just realized that I am sitting here speculating on the accuracy of the specuation and then speculating on the possible results if all or part of the speculation is accurate and not just speculation.

And people say the stock market is dodgy...

hamsmith · 22 May 2004, 08:55 (Ref:978523)

Quote:

Originally posted by BARrouette
I hope it is true because i just can't wait for his comeback and celebrate his return with a (more than 1)cold one.

And then rub in the faces of all the Villeneuve doubters who have done nothing but spout loads of BS without any real evidence to support a single word they have said.

**Peter Mallett** · 22 May 2004, 09:52 (Ref:978568)

Well if you class me in that category I think you'd be wrong. He's underperformed for the last two seasons at least.

And if he does come back he'd better show some solid performances if he's to sway anybody's opinions.

So let's not talk about BS articles with no foundation. Let's wait and see if there is any evidence that he's coming back.

Armco Bender · 22 May 2004, 09:59 (Ref:978575)

I still think Elvis will be coming back first

**Peter Mallett** · 22 May 2004, 10:03 (Ref:978576)

Funny enough I saw him in the chipshop next door.

hamsmith · 23 May 2004, 15:44 (Ref:980095)

It's gonna happen.

Transcript from fia.com
Thursday press conference.

Q: (Byron Young – Speed Sport) Patrick, is there any chance of seeing Jacques Villeneuve in the car in the near future, testing, because there are all sorts of rumours and speculation that he could be in the car before the end of the season and that kind of thing. Could you give us some information on that?
PH: I wish our engineers were as creative as the press really! I was rung up after Barcelona saying that they understood Jacques Villeneuve was at Ricard and was going to be driving one of our cars there. It was certainly the first I knew about it. I did buzz upstairs and asked Frank whether he had set something up and hadn’t told me about it, but he also denied all knowledge.
Q: (Mike Doodson) Patrick, can I follow this up – we did hear that Jacques had spent some time in your company. Do you want to deny that as well and if he was in your company was it at his request or yours?
PH: Erm. We certainly had one discussion with him, yep.

Q: (Mike Doodson) Was it on the premises?
PH: No.
__________________

ASCII Man · 23 May 2004, 15:47 (Ref:980104)

"We certainly had one discussion with him, yep."

Uhm, what's going to happen then??

hamsmith · 23 May 2004, 15:52 (Ref:980110)

The test, the race seat and amazing race results. O.K i know that this isn't fact yet but i can feel it.

**Peter Mallett** · 23 May 2004, 20:16 (Ref:980346)

So let me just get this right.

Patrick got a call from a journo, and denied any testing story. He then gets asked if he talked to JV and says yes.

Now on the basis of the above JV is going to be in a Williams.

Tenuous don't you think?

Knowlesy · 23 May 2004, 20:19 (Ref:980352)

It's a shred of hope for the JV fans i guess.

Jordi · 23 May 2004, 22:15 (Ref:980479)

Well, Jacques would always be an improvement on Ralf...

ElScOrChO · 26 May 2004, 13:26 (Ref:983854)

An other rumor is saying that Villeneuve is going to test on the Miramas BMW test track on thursday!

Only problem is that he can't do more than 50km

French article over here
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/f1-cart/ar...4,691066.shtml

Sorry english buddies

Red · 26 May 2004, 13:38 (Ref:983863)

Hmm. ok.

Quote:

(source Pitpass)
Newly appointed Technical director at WilliamsF1, Sam Michael, has told pitpass "we have no plans to test Villeneuve at the current time."

TeddyG · 26 May 2004, 14:15 (Ref:983917)

Whatever don't tell me you guys haven't seen the lastest news which many f1-sites have been carrying:

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html

Jacques Villeneuve WILL test a BMW-Williams.

This publication has been told by sources that the French-Canadian is provisionally scheduled to drive a FW26 at Jerez (Spain) in 'very late June.'

But yet another source said Jacques is more likely to race a Toyota in 2005. The source reckons the '97 champ will test 'a Cologne car' pretty soon.

Villeneuve, who lives in Monaco, was spotted in the Formula One paddock once or twice on Thursday and Friday, and is likely to have held meetings with chiefs.

http://www.itv-f1.com/news/news_story/21356

DIXON OUT OF WILLIAMS RUNNING

Scott Dixon has dropped out of the running for a Williams drive after signing a new deal to stay in IRL.

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html
Head admits to Villeneuve talks

''All is possible in the future''

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html

Veterans back Villeneuve to return

Jacques Villeneuve has been backed to return to Formula One next year by two of Formula One's most experienced drivers

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html

Bernie backs JV return

“I never felt Jacques should have left the sport in the first place and it would be fantastic to see him back," said Ecclestone "He was always exciting and if he was given a competitive car he could really show what he can still do.”

Like I said these reports haven't been on just one site but nearly all of them! What does it tell you? It is more than likely (especially now with Dixon out of the running) that JV WILL be driving either a Williams or a Toyota in 2005 baby!

shiny side up! · 26 May 2004, 14:38 (Ref:983944)

TeddyG... I would love to see JV in a Williams next year. Or even a Toyota, if Williams doesn't work out.

And yes, there are 'reports' all over the internet websites that say a JV test is imminent. And yes, 'all is possible' in the future.

But according to many 'reports' out today, Dixon isn't necessarily out of the running. He himself says the contract he just signed would allow him out should a good F1 opportunity present itself. Specifically, that does not rule him any more 'out' of the Williams running than JV is 'in'.

Just because Bernie likes him and a few drivers like him and he has been seen talking with a team boss or two does not mean he is a shoe-in for a test, let alone a race seat. I think he certainly could perform given the opportunity, but I also think those who are betting on his return to F1 based on the 'reports' with their 'sources close to the team' have some blind faith overriding their logic. The teams know Villenueve's fan base, and they know about all these rumours in the news media... they stand to generate a lot of good publicity if/when they test JV, so I would think that if there were indeed a test already scheduled, they would announce it and take advantage of the press. In summary, until we hear it from JV, Williams, Toyota, or Pollock (some reservations for me with CP, though...), it is all just rumour...

freud · 26 May 2004, 15:05 (Ref:983975)

Sorry but rumors dont get you contracts..

JV was comprehensively beaten by Button last year. Some say it was due to his poor form. If JV is actually test-driving a williams this summer, he has to prove he's faster than Marc Gene and Anotnio Pizzonia. Will he be?? I am not so sure.

I believe Webber will be a williams driver in 2005 and williams is likely to give either Gene or Pizzonia the seat #2. And FW never forgets those who snub him. JV walked out of williams in 1998 and I just dont see FW and Head wanting him back unless he is willing to drive for peanuts.

ASCII Man · 26 May 2004, 15:09 (Ref:983980)

Quote:

Originally posted by freud
JV was comprehensively beaten by Button last year. Some say it was due to his poor form. If JV is actually test-driving a williams this summer, he has to prove he's faster than Marc Gene and Anotnio Pizzonia. Will he be?? I am not so sure.

calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean...

Ahh, that's better...

garcon · 26 May 2004, 15:12 (Ref:983986)

So far in the midsts of all this rumour, speculation and outright nonsense, I've only seen one quote that is even close to being a straightforward statement of the current situation. Oddly, it's one that Teddy missed...

Quote:

Pitpass, quoted by Red a few posts back:
Newly appointed Technical director at WilliamsF1, Sam Michael, has told pitpass "we have no plans to test Villeneuve at the current time."

Give me something believable that's even half as definite as that and I might take notice.

Red · 26 May 2004, 15:21 (Ref:984000)

Well, I can see tomorrow's headlines in the Sun or threads' titles at 1010ths.

"...At current time, he said! But we were talking about tomorrow!"

ASCII Man · 26 May 2004, 15:23 (Ref:984003)

Damn you, Red, now i'm out of arguments!

**Adam43** · 26 May 2004, 17:27 (Ref:984148)

One closes as another opens:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=54843

**Bononi** · 26 May 2004, 17:43 (Ref:984163)

It's a hard life

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